Pneumatic-despatch-tube system.



NO. 842,836. I PATENTED'JAN. 29, 1907. Q

J. S. JACQUES.

PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBB SYSTEM, APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1. I

No. 842,836. PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

- J. s. JACQUES.

PNEUMATIC DBSPATCH TUBE SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1905.

4'SHEETS-SHBET 2.

I A: Q 137 142 .2 "r1 aerator:

No 842,836. PATENTBDJAN. 29, 1907. J. s. JACQUES. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

-PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907 J. SQJAGQUBS, PNEUMATIC DBSPATGH TUBE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1905.

4 SHEETSSHEBT 4.

111/11/1/111 Il/l/l/I/ll/l/ In ventar:

"UNITED STATES PATENT oFF oE.

PNEUMATlC-DESPATCH-TUBE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application filed November 24. 1905. Serial No. 288,874.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it .known that 1, JOHN S. JACQUES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and use' ful Improvements in Pneumatic Despatchan ejector is employed to create the air-current.

. .The object of thisinvcntion is to provide means whereby the motive fluid used to cre ate an air-current within the despatch-tubcs shall be expended only during the 'passage of carriers through said despatch-tubes and means whereby the motive-fluid pressure apparatus shall be required to operate only when the pressure becomes diminished by the demand upon it, the attainment of this object resulting in a very marked economy in the operation of the system.

Another object of this invention is to provide means whereby the rapidity of travel of carriers within the despatch-tubes shall be increased, this object being" attained by the employment of a device which causes a cur-.

rent of air to be drawn in at one'open tenninal and forced out of a second open terminal, or, in other words,'causes a vacuum to be created in one despat'ch-tube and an airpressure in the other despatch-tube.

The invention consists in the combinationand arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims thereof. 7

Referring to' the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved despatchtube system. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the same, partly broken away to save space in the drawings, the wiring for the electrical functions being shown diagrammatically in said figure; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the lower sendingterminal. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the lower receiving-terminal. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectionof one of the switches. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the upper sending-terminal. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail side elevationof the upper reoeiving-terminah Fig. v.8 is ,a

I plan section taken on line 8 Sci Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical section, partly in elevation, of the shut-off valve. Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section, partly in elevation, of the ejector. Fig 11 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section, partly in eleva- 'tion, of the air-compressing pump-governing valve. Fig. 12 is an enlarged front evation of a modified form of air-compressing apparatus. cross-section, partly in elevation, of the pump-governing valve.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In, the drawings, 15 is a despatch-tube pro ceiving-terminal 17 and is adapted to transmit carriers from said sending-terminal to said receivingeterminal. I

18 is a despatclntube provided with a sending-terminal 19 and a receiving-terminal 20 andrs adapted to transmit carriers from said sending-terminal to said receiving-terminal,

-An ejector 21, provided with a pressureintermediate inlet-orifice 24, is connected at terminal 1.7 by means of apipe 25. The outlet-orifice 23 is connected to the sending-terminal 19 by means of a pipe 26. sure-inlet orifice 22 is connected by means of a pipe 27 to a secondary compressed-air res ervoir 28, said secondary reservoir being connected to a plain compressed-air reservoir 29 by means oil a pipe 30. A steam-operated aircompressing ,pump 31, supplied with steam from a boiler 32 through a pipe 33, is adapted to supply compressed air to' the main reservoir 29.

A pump-governing valve 34 of welhknown construction is interposed between the steam-operated air-compressing pump 31 and the boiler 32 and is adapted to control the supply of steam from the boiler 32 to the steam-operated air,compressing pump 31. The pump-governing valve 34 provided with an inlet-orifice 35 and an outlet-orifice 86, said inlet-orifice connected to the boiler '32 and said outlet-orifice connected to the pump 31.- 'A mainv valve '37 is adapted to open or to close 'communication from the Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical inlet orifice 22, an outlet-orifice 23, and an said intermediate inlet-orifice to the receivingvided with a sending-terminal 16 and a re- 3 inlet-orifice 35 to the outlet-orifice 36, said 'main valve being held normally closed by a helical compression-spring 38. The pumpgoverning valve 34 is also provided with an air-chamber 39, connected by a pipe 40 to the air-pressure pipe 30.

' 43, thus actuating the auxiliary valve 42,

which in ,turn actuates the main valve 37 by supplying steam to the under side of thepiston 150 through passages 151 and 152 ,formed in the casing of the valve 34, thereby causing said main valve, to open communication between the boileri52 and the pump 31, whereupon said pump will operate to compress air into the mam reservoir 29 until the an therein is restored to its normal pressure. The pump-governing valve 34 is a well known and patented device providing a convenient means for controlling the pump 3 1, and thereby maintaining a substantially constant pressure within the reservoirs 28 and 29, and I do not claiin any of the features of said pump-governing valve.

In Fig. 12 I have,illustrated a modified form of air-compressing apparatus in which 44 is an electric motor adapted to drive an air-compressing'pump 45, said motor 44 driven by an electrical current from any suitable source. A pressure-regulator gage 46 is connected by a pipe 47- to the pipe 80 and is adapted to control the motor 44 through the medium oi a self-starter 48 and the apparatus connected therewith. Said pressure-regulator gage 46 and said self-starter 48 are well known and patented devices, forming a convenient meansfor controlling the motor 44 a1ul maintaining a substantially constant pressure within the main reservoir 29. When the pressure within the ,main reservoir 29 and the pipes connected therewith becomes diminished because of the demand upon it, the pressure-regulator gage acts tostart the motor 44 through the medium of the self-starteretfi k, said motor operating the air-co1npressingpump 45 until the air within the reservoir 29 is restored to its normal pressure, whereupon the pressureregulator gage acts through the medium of the self-starter 48 to stop the motor 44.

A magnetically operated shut-oft valve 49, interposed between the secondary reservoir 28 nd the pressurc-inlet orifice 22, is adapted a control thesupply of compressed air to the pressure-inlet orifice 22, sai'dmag neticallybperated shut-oil valve foaming the subject-matter of a separate. a plication filed of even date herewith, Scria No. 288,960. In the 1nagnetically-operated shut-ofi' valve 50 is a valve-casing provided with an inletorifice 51, an outlet-orifice- 52, and a cylindrical chamber 53, connected to said inlet-orifice by apassage 54. Am ain valve is adapted to normally close communication from said inlet-orifice to said outlet-orifice and has formed integral therewith a piston 56, which loosely fits the cylindrical chamber 53. Into the upper part of the valve-casing 50 is screwed a bushing 57, provided with a chamber 58 and an outlet-passage 59 formed therein, said passage intersecting a passage 60 formed in the valve-casing 50, said passages forming an outlet from the chamber 58 to the outlet-orifice 52.

The bushing 57 is provided with an orifice 61, which forms an outletjrom the cylindrical chamber 53 to the chamber 58. A helical compression-spring 62, hearing at its up per end against the bushing 57 and at its lower end against the piston 56, is adapted to normally seat the main valve 55.

Vertical standards 63 63 are fast at their lower ends to the valve-casing 50 and sup port at their upper ends a plate 64. Mounted upon the plate 64 isa solenoid 65, provided with a preferably cylindrical hole 66,

whose axis is coincident with the common axis of the cylindrical chamber 53 and the piston 56. A core 67 loosely fits the hole 66 and is connected toa valve 68, said valve adapted to normally close the orifice '61. A weight 69, fast to the core 67,is adapted to normally seat the valve 68 upon the orifice 61 .and is assisted by a helical extension-spring 70, whose tension may be adjusted by means of an adjusting-screw 71. A stop-collar 72, fast to the core 67, is adapted to limit the up ward'movement of said core. The cross-sectional area of the orifice 61 is greater than that of the annular space 73, surrounding the piston 56.

In the operation of the valve when the solenoid is energized by electrical means, hereinafter described, the core 67 is lifted, together with the valve 68 connected thereto. A balance of pressure normally exists on the upper and lower sides, respectively, of the piston 56; but when the orifice 61 is uncovered by the valve 68 the air under pressure within thecylindrical chamber 53 escapes through the orifice 61 into the chamber 58 faster than the annular space 73 admits the compressed air to the cylindrical chamber 53. Therefore the pressure within the cylindrical chamber 53 having become reduced, the pressure on the under side of the piston 56 acts to force said piston upwardly against the tension of the spring 62, thereby opening the main valve 55 and allowing compressed air to pass from the secondary reservoir 28 to the inlet-orifice 22 of the ejector 21.

The lowersending-ter1nii1al 16 of the de\ mental contact-plate 95 is adapted to enspatch-tube is provided with all-orifice 74, l gage two terminals 06 and. which 18 at all times open to the atmosphere. The upper receivmg-terminal 17 of the do' spatch-tube 1.5 is provided with an orifice 75, which is normally closed to the atmosphere by a valve 7 6. The upper sending-terminal 19 is provided with an orifice 77 normally closed to the atmosphere by a valve 78, and

the lower receiving-termina1 20 is provided with an upwardly-turned outlet orifice 70, openat all times to the atmosphere, and is also'provided with an orifice 80, normally closed by a butler-plate 81.

' In the operationof the system when the magnetically-operated shut-off valve 40 is opened by the energizing of the solenoid compressed air is admitted to thepressureinlet orifice 22 of the ejector 21 from the secondary reservoir 28, said compressed air passing outwardly through the outlet-orifice 23, thence through thopipe 26, the air-cur- .rent thus crcated producing a vacuum acting to draw a current of air in at the orifice through the orifice 75.

shown it full lines in l ig. 3. end 86 of the lever 8.4 normally extends 7 4' through the desp'atch-tube 15, thence through the pipe 25 to the inlet-orifice 24 of the ejector 21, said current of air then passing outwardly through the outlet-orifice 23,pipo 26, past the valve 78, through the'despatcln tube 18, and outwardly tl'irough the orifice 79. Said air-curren t acts to draw carriers insorted in the sending-terminal 16 through the despatch-tnbe 15 and discharge them Said air-current also acts to force carriers insertedin the sendingterminal 10 through the dcspatch-tube 18 and outwardly through the orifice 80.

The lower sending-terminal 16 is provided with an oscillatory switch 82, pivoted at 83 tothe terminal 16. A lever 84, also pivoted. at 83, is opcratively connected. to the switch 82 and is adapted to rock said switch upon its pivot. Said lever is normally held by helical extension-springs S5 85 in the position The rigl it-hand across the orifice 74, and thereby prevents the introduction of carriers into said orilicc until said lever is swung into the position Shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3. When the lever 84 is swung to the position shown in. dotted lincspl ig. 3. the lctt-l and and S7 of c said lever engages a latch 88, pivoted at 89 to left-hand end 87 of the lever 84.

end 101' of the lever is fast to the terminal 97, mounted upon the terminal 16 and. insulated therefrom.

The upper receiving terminal 17 is provided with an oscillatory switch 98, pivoted at 99to said terminal. A lever 100, also nivoted at 90, is operatively connected to the oscillatory switch 98 and is adapted to rock said switch upon its pivot. The right-hand valve 76, and upon the leit-handend 102 oi said lever is mounted a weight 103. When a carrier is passing outwardly through the orilice 75, it strikes the terminal valve 76, rocking the lever 100 upon its pivot into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7, the weight 103 acting to check the momentum of the car ricr and acting to return the terminal valve 76 to the position shown in full lines in saidfigure after said carrier has passed through the orilice 75. ,The oscillatory switch 98 is identical in construction with the switch S2 and consists of a cylindrical connnuta-tor 104 -formed of insulating material, upon which is mounted a segment al contact-plate 105. Terminals 106 and 107 are mounted upon theterminal 17 and insulated therefrom. The contactplate 105 is adapted to engage the terminals 106 and 107 when the lover 100 is rocked into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7.

The terminal valve 78 of the terminal 19 is pivotedat 108 to said tern'iinal and is providcd'jwith a linger-hook 100, by means of which said terminal valve" may be'opened. A springpressed latch 110 is adapted to lock tho-terminal valve 78 in the position shown in full. lines, Fig. 6, and may be withdrawn from engagement with said terminal valve by a handle 11 1 said springqiiessed latch acting to hold said terminal valve closed against the pressure within the terminal 10.

An oscillatory switch 112, identical in construction with the switches 82 and 98, con

sists of a c-yilndrical commutator 118, formed 7 of insulating material, upon which is mounted a segmental contact=plate 114. Terminals and 116 are mounted upon the terminal 10 and insulated therefrom. A bellcrank lever 117, pivoted at 118, is operatively connected to the oscillatory switch 1.12. and is adapted to rock said'switch upon its pivot. A weight 119, fast to the arm 120 of the boll-crank lever 117, is adapted to normally hold said bell-crank lover in the position shown in full lines, Fig. 6 and to return said hell-crank lever to said position when it has been swung from said position, as hereinafter described. The left-hand arm 121 of the bell-crank lever 117 is adapted to engage a latch 1.22, pivoted at 123 to a magnet-casing 124, said latch acting to lock said bell-crank lever when said lever is in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 6.

The terminabvalve' 78 is adaptedto en'- gage the arm 120 of the bell-crank lever 117 when said valve is opened and is ada )ted to rock said lever, together with the oscillatory switch 112, to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 6, at which time the contactplate .1 14 engages the terminals 115 and 116.

An electromagnet 125, mounted within the magnet-casing 124. is adapted to lift the armature 126, together with the latch 122, to which said armature is fast. A helical extension-s ring 127' is adapted to normally hold the atch 122 in the position shown in Fig. 6.

An oscillatory switch 128, identical in construction. with those hereinbefore described, consists of a cylindrical commutator 129, formed of insulating material, upon which is mounted a segmental contact-plate 130, said switch being pivoted at 131 to the terminal 20. A lever 132, also pivoted at 131, is fast at its right 'hand end to the buffer-plate 81 and has a weight 133 fast to the left-hand end thereof, said weight adapted to hold said butler-plate normally in contact with the ori fire 89 and to retunii said hu'ti'er-plate to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 4, after a earrier has passed through said orifice. Torininals I40 and 141 are fast to the terminal 20 and insulated therefrom. \Yhen the lever 132 is fnoved to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4, the contact-plate 130 is adapted to engage the terminals 140 and 141.

Referring to Fig. 2, in which a battery134 and the wiring connecting said battery to the various electrical devices of the system are shown .iiagrammaticaily, the terminal 96 is connected by a wire t0 the terminal 136 of the solenoid 65, and the terminal 97 is connected'by a wire 137'and a wire 138 to one of the terminals of electromagnet' 125. The other terminal of the electroinagnet 125 is connected by a wire 139 to the terminal 141. The terminal 140 is connected by a wire 142 and a wire 143 to the: terminal 144 of the solenoid 65. 'lhei'terminal 116 is connected by a wire 145 to the wire 135. One of the terminals of the electromagnet 92 is connected by a wire 146 to the wire 137. The other ter-v minal of the electiiomagnet 92 is connected by a wire 147 to the terminal 107. The terminal 106 is connected by a wire 148 to the wire 142, and the terminal 115 is connected to the wire 137 by a wire 149. The wires 142 and "137 are connected to the positive and nagative poles, respectively, of the battery 134. v

The operation of inyimproved pneumaticdespatch tube s'ystein is as follows: A salesman st Ltio'ned. at a counter A desiring to send a ;:arrier 'to a cashier stationed at' a eounterB swings the lever 84 into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, the latch.

locking it in said position. An electric circuit-1s thus cempleted by the contact- 6 ,1plate 95, sending the current from'the battery 134 through the solenoid 65, energizing the same and opening the valve 49 in a man I t w l m I ner herembefore described. :A current of air is instantly created within the despatch-tube 15 in the direction indicated by the arrows a and in the despatch-tube 18 in the direction indicated by the arrowspb f The salesman now inserts the carrier inpothe terminal 16, and the vacuum created within the despatchtube 15 by the ejector draws v the carrier through said despatelritube to thetei'minal 1.7 the carrier by it ineinehtin11 passing by the opening of the and outwardly through the orifice 75,. tiuowing thefvalve 76 downwardly and causnlig the cbntact-plate 105 to complete an electric circuit to the electromagnet 92. The electromagnet i now energized. by an electric cur; ent from ti' battery 134 lifts the armature 93, together with the latch 88, tliusreleasing the left-hand end 87 of the lever '84f'and allow ing said lever to be returned. to its/normal position by the springs 85. The lever 84 in returning to its normal positionbrings= the centact plate out of contact {with the terminals 96 and 97, breaking the electric circuit tip the solenoid 65. The solenoid 65 thus 'dencrgized allows the valve 49 to close in a ihan-ner hereinbefore described; The valve 49 now being closed the air within thc desPatch-tulms 15 and 18 becomes restored to atmospheric pressure. The cashier stationed at the counter B desiring to send a carrier to the salesman at the counter A presses the latch 111) downwardly, opens the; terminal valve 73, and in serts a carrier in the terminal 19 through the orifice 77. The terminal valve 78 in its opening movemeht acts to swing the bellcrank lever 117 tothefp ositioh shown in dot ted lines, Fig. 6, thedatch 122acting to lock said bell'crank lever in the position shown by said dotted lines. The contact-plate 11 i is thus brought imtoZ contact with the terminals and 116-, thus completing an electric. circuit to the solenbid 65, thereby energizing the same and opening the valve 49 in a manner hereinbefore [described The cashier now closes the terminal valve 73; The compressed air in the secondary reservoir 23 passes through the pipe 27 and the valve 49 to the ejector 21:,t1 us creating an air current within the despatchtubes 15 and 18, as hereinhefore described. I now existing within the pipe and beneath the carrier in the terminal 19 .forces said carrier through the despatclitube 18 and outwardly through the terminal QO. The carrier striking the buffer-plate 8'1 fswim gs the le- The air pressure ICC ver 132 into the position showngm dotted .fast, disengaging said latch from. the left hand arm 121 of the bell-crank lever 11?, and

allowing the Weight 119 toreturn said bellcrank lever to the position shown in full lines,

Fig.6.. 'The contact-plate 114 is thusbrought out of'con'tact withthe terminals 115 and 116, thereby breaking the circuit, The solenoid 65 thus denergized by the breaking of the circuit-allows the valve 49 to close in a manner hereinbefore describedf The compressed air now --having ceased to f ow through the ejector 21, the air within ..te'despatoh-tubes 15 and '18 is restored to tnospheric pressure.

- It will be evident that any number pf sets or le spatcl 1-tubes may be-conneeted tov the main air-pressure reservoir 29 and that the number-of these will be limitedonly by the capacity of the reservoir 29 and the air-compressing pump which supplies compressed ai r thereto. The air-compressing apparatus ilustrated in Fig. 12) is particularly adapted to stores or other establishments having no steam-boiler plant.

It will be evident that I may employ any other suitable form of electromagnet in' place of the solenoid 65, and I do not desire to limit to the atmosphere at a second pair of terminals, said. intermediate inlet-orificeconair-pressure means nected to one of said normally closed terminals, said outlet-orifice connected to the other of said normally closed terminalsfand connected to said pres- 2. In a" pneumaticrdespatch-tube system, an ejector provided with; a pressure-inlet orifice, an outlet-orifice, and an intermediate inlet-orifice, two tubes adapted to transmit carriers in opposite direct-ions,"respectively,

said tubes open to the atmosphere. at one pair of terminals, said tubes normally closed to the atmosphere at a second pair of-ter minals, said intermediate inlet-orifice connected'to one of said normally closed terminals, said outlet-orifice connected. to the other of said normally closed terminals, airpressure' means connected to said pressureinlet orific e, and a magnetically-operated shut-off valvelocated between said air-pressure means and said pressure-inlet orifice.

3. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, an ejector provided with a pressure-inlet orifice, an-outlet-orifice, and an intermediate inlet-orifice, two tubes adapted to transmit carriers in opposite directions, respectively,

said tubes open to the atmosphere at. one panof terminals, said tubes normally closed to the atmosphere at a second. pair of terminals, said intermediate inlet-orifice connected to one of said normally closed terminals, said outlet orifice connected to the other of said-normally closed terminals, airpressure means connected to said pressureinlet orifice, a magnetically-operated shutofl' valve located between said air- -ressure meansand said pressurerin'let or' cc, and

means adapted to control said air-pressure means whereby a substantially constant pressure is automatically maintained in the connections leadmg from said air-pressure means to said pressure-inlet orifice.

4. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, I two tnbesadapted to transmit carriers in -oppos1te directions, respectively, saidtubes open to the atmosphere at one pair of terminals, said tubes normally closed to the atmosphere at a second pair of terminals, an ejector provided with a pressure-inlet orifice, an outlet-orifice, and an intermediate inletorifice said intermediate inlet-orifice connected to one of said normally closed terminals, said outlet-orifice connected to the other of sald normally closed terminals, a

source of compressed air connected to said I pressure-inlet orifice, and a valve ada ted to control the supply of said compresse air to'said pressure-inlet orifice. I

, 5. In a pneumaticdespatch-tube system, two tubes adapted to transmit carr ers in opposite directions, respectively, said tubes open to the atmosphere at one pair of terminals, said tubes normally closed to the atmosphere at a second pair of terminals, an

ejector provided with a pressure-inlet orifice,

an outlet-orifice, and an' intermediate inletorifice, said intermediate inlet-orifice connected to one of said normally closed terminals, said outlet-orifice connected to the other of said normally closed terminals, a steam-operated air-compressing pump connected to said pressure-inlet orifice, a valve adapted to control the supply of compressed air to said pressure-inlet orlfice, and a pumpregulating valve adapted to automaticaly control-the supply of steam'to said steamoperated air-compressing pump. y

6. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, two tubes adaptedto transmit" carriers in opposite directions, respectively, said tubes open to the atmosphere atone pair. of terminals, said tubes normally'closed tothe atmosphere at a second pair of terminals, an ejector provided with a pressure-inlet orifice,

flan outlet-orifice, and an intermediate inIetorifice, said intermediate inlet-orifice' con nected to onexof said normally closed terminals, said outlet-orifice connected to the other of said normally closed'terminals, an

air-compressing pump connected to said pressurednlet orifice, a magneticallyoper- 7. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system,

two tubes adapted to transmit carriersin opposite directions, respectively, said tubes open to the atmosphere at one pair of ter-g minals, said tubes normally closed to the atmosphere at a second pair of terminals, an

ejector provided with a pressure-inletorifioe,

an outlet-orifice, and an intermediate inletorifice, said intermediate inlet or-ifice con-1 nected to one of said normally closed terminals, said outlet-orifice connected to the other of said normally closed terminals,,a

main air-pressure reservoir, a secondary airpressure reservoir, connected together, said I secondary air-pressure reservoir connected to said pressure-inlet orifice, a magneticallyoperated shut-oil valve interposed between said secondary air-pressure reservoir and said pressure-inlet orifice, hnd means for maintaining a substantially constant pressure within said main air-pressure reservoir.

8. In a pneumatic-despatcli-tube system, a despatch-tube provided with a sendingterminal and a receiving-terminal, an aircurient-creating device connected therewith, a source of compressed air connected to said air-current-cleating device, a shut-off valve adapted to control the supply of compressed air to said air-current-creating de vice, asolenoid adapted to operate said shutoff valve, a manually-o eratable electricj switch in circuit with sai solenoid and 10- f cated at said "sendingaerminal, a spring or weight adapted to return said switch to its opened position, an armature adapted to lock said switch in its closed position, a

spring adapted to hold'said armature in engagement with saidswitch, an electnomagnet gagement with said switch, an auomatic:

that and 1; adapted to be closed by'the receivingater 'z minal valve when said terminal valve is; opened by acarrier passing therethrough, and 'a' weight acting to close said shut-off adaptedto release said armature from eni switch in circuit with said clectrom'a valve when a carrier has passed through? said receiving-terminal.

59. In a pneumatic-de'spatch-tube system, a despatch tube provided with a sending-' terminal and, a receiving-terminal valvef a means for creating an air-current therein,

means for supplying compressed air to said air-currenhcreatiriQ means, a shut-off valve adapted to control the supply of compressed air to said air-current-creating means, a solen'- oid adapted to operate said shut-oil valve, a source of electric current, an electric switch Biases manually operatab'le incircuit withsaid solenold and said source of electric current, means for locking said manually-operatahle switch in its closed position, an electromagnet adapted to withdraw'said lo'c'kin means from engagement with said manual-y-operatabl-e switch, an automatic switch in circuit with said elcctromagnet and closed by the opening movement of the receiving-terminal valve, and means for returning said automatic switch to its opened position.

10. In a pneumatic des atch-tube system, I

a despatch-tube provide with a sendingtermmal and a receiving-terminal, an aircurrent-creating device connected therewith,

a source of compressed air connected to said air-currentcreating device, a shut-oil valve adapted to control the supply of compressed air to said air-currentcreating device, a solenoid adapted to operate said shutoff valve, a sending-terminal valve manually opera-table, an electric switch in circuit with said solenoid adapted to be closed by the opening movement of said sendingterminal valve, an armature adapted to lock said electric switch in its closed, sition, an olectromagnet adapted to wit idraw said armature from engagement with said switch, means for returning said switch to its opened position, a receiving-terminal closure adapted to check the momentum of a carrier passing out of said receiving-terminal, an automatic switch in circuit with said electromagnet operatively connectedto said receiving-terminal closure and adapted to be closed by he opening movement of said closure, and m us for closing said closure and returning sai automatic switch to its oplened position.

31. In a pneumatic-despatc -tube system, a'desp atoll-tube provided with'an inlet and an outlet orifice,- a terminal valve adapted close said outlet orifice, an ejector provided with an inlet-orifice, an outlet-orifice, and an intermediate orifice, said despatch-tubecom nected tosaid intermediate orifice, a rece tacle for compressed air connected to sa d ejector-inlet orifice, a shut-off valve inter: posed between said ejector and said receptacle, electric ally-0 erated meansto'iopen said shut oil valve, sai means controlled by said terminal valve, and a spring adapted to close said shut-off valve.

12. Ina pneumaticdespatch aube system, an ejector provided with an inlet and an outlet'orifioe, adespatc'h-tube provided with an inlet and outlet orifice connected to said ejector intermediate said ejector inlet and outlet orifices, an air-pressure reservoir connected to said ejector-1i1letorifice, aterminal valve adapted to close said despatch-tube outlet orifice, an electric switch operatively connected to said'terminal valve, apivoted arm normally extending across said despatchtube-inlet orifice, an electric switch connected to said pivoted arm, an electromagnet in latch to release said arm held thereby, a shutoff valve interposed between said reservoir andtsaid e ector-inlet orifice, and a solenoid adapted to open said shut-off valve, said pivoted arm adapted to actuate said switch connected thereto to com lete a circuit to said solenoid to open sai shut-E valve controlled thereby. I V

13. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, an ejector provided with an inlet and an outlet orifice, a despatch-tube provided with an inlet and an outlet orifice connected to said ejector-outlet orifice, an, air-pressure reservoir connected to said ejector-inlet orifice, a

terminal valve adapted to close said despatch tube-inletjgrifice, a pivotally-mounted buffer-plate adapted to close said despatch-tub eadapted to actuate sai out et orifice, an electric switch adaptedto be closed by the opening movement of said terminal valve, an electric switch Opera'- tively connected to said bufler; late, an electromagnet in circuit with sai switch, a latch ada ted to hold said terminalvalve switch closer said ivoted buffer-plate g switch connected thereto to close said circuit and operate said latch to release said switch held thereby, a shut-offvalve interposed between said lfeser voir and said ejector-inlet orifice and a solenoid adapted to 0 en said shut-ofl valve, said terminal valve a apted to actuate said'switch connected thereto to com lete a circuit to saidsolenoid to open saids ut-ofi? valve controlled thereby.

14. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a despatch-tube providedwith an inlet and an outlet orifice, a terminal valve adapted to close said despatch-tube-outlet orifice, a pivoted arm, normally extending across said "despatch-t ube-inlet orifice, an ejector provided with an inlet-orifice, an outlet-orifice,

and an intermediate orifice, said despatchtube connected to said intermediate orifice, a receptacle for air under pressure connected to said ejector-inlet orifice, a shut-off valve interposed between said ejector and said receptacle, and electrically-operated means to bufferplate- 'opensaid shut-oif valve, said means con trolled by said terminal valve and said pivoted arm. p

15. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a despatch-tube provided with an inlet and an' outlet orifice, a terminal valve adapted to 'close said despatch-tube-inlet orifice, a pivotally-mounted buffer-plate adapted to close said despatch-tube outlet orifice, an ejector provided with an inlet-orifice, an outlet-orilice; and an intermediate orifice, said despatch-tube connected to said ejector-outlet orifice, a receptacle for air under pressure connected to said ejector-1nlet orifice, a shutas valve interposed between said ejector and said I receptacle, and electricallyoperated means to opensaid shut-off valve, said means controlled by said terminal valve and said bufferlate.

- 16. n a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a despatch-tube, a sending-terminal, a receiving-terminal, a device adaptedto create an air-current within said despatch-tube, a source of motive fluid connected to said aircurrent-creating device, ashut-off valve interposed between said source of motive fluid and said air-current-creati'ng device, a solenoid ada ted to 0 en said shut-0E valve, a manual -operatable switch located at said sending-terminal and adapted to complete an electric circuit to said solenoid, an automatic switch located at said receiving-terminal, said automatic switch adapted to be operated b the'passage of a carrier outwardly through said receiving-terminal, a latch adapted to withdraw said latch from said manually-operatable switch and controlled by saidautomatic switch, whereby said solenoidopens said shut-off valve when a carrier is introduced into said sending-terminal and closes said shut-off valve upon the passage of a carrier outwardly from said receiving-terminal.

my hand in presence of two subscribing wit IIGSSGS.

. JOHN S. JACQUES.

Witnesses:

Louis ,A. JoNEs, CHARLES B. GOODING.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 

